4First encounter with Bibi Dong
AI Model: gemini-3.0-flash
Chapter 4: First Meeting with Bibi Dong
As dawn gradually broke, Long Qianming had already finished packing his things. He didn't have much—only a relatively clean set of old clothes and a package weighing five or six catties.
Long Qianming knelt before the cluster of servants' graves in the back mountain's cemetery. Looking at the epitaph carved on one of the tombstones, he kowtowed toward the grave with a heavy heart.
"Take care, Mother. I'm leaving."
After finishing the three kowtows, Long Qianming stood up decisively. Gazing at the brightening sky, he felt a faint sense of aversion toward the daylight, perhaps due to the nature of his Spirit.
Nevertheless, Long Qianming slung the package over his shoulder and left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect under the supervision of several Sect disciples.
He walked a distance along the main road carved through the forest. By the time the sky was fully bright and the stinging sun rose above the horizon, he had arrived at Thunder City at the foot of the mountain.
Thunder City was one of the Four Element Cities and could be considered a fief city of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. All the architectural styles inside were nearly identical to those within the Sect. Thunder Academy, one of the Four Element Academies, was located in the western part of the city. At this moment, the recruitment notices in the city were a diverse mix.
"Thunder Academy is recruiting students with the lightning attribute. Tuition is free for the first year. Those interested, please go to the registration point in the West City."
"The Leiyin Clan is seeking two matrilocal sons-in-law. Spirit Masters at or above the rank of Spirit Elder may apply. Excellent benefits, with a monthly allowance of 200 gold coins. If you can sire an offspring with great potential for the family, there will be additional rewards."
"The Leiying Sect is recruiting disciples. We can help disciples obtain the most suitable first five spirit rings. For those who make significant contributions, there are additional Spirit Bone rewards."
...Although Thunder City was a fief city, there were still many small and medium-sized families and Sects within it. Their level of emphasis on lightning-attribute Spirit Masters was not at all inferior to that of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
None of this had anything to do with Long Qianming. At the moment, he was sitting in a roadside noodle shop, wolfing down a bowl of wontons while carefully observing the various merchant caravans.
Just thinking about his act of throwing away money yesterday made Long Qianming feel a bit of regret.
"It felt good at the time, and my mood improved a lot, but now I'm severely short on money. I have less than four silver coins."
If he wanted to leave this city now, he could only stake out the merchant caravans to see if there were any cheaper or free ones that could give him a ride.
However, not long after he started eating his wontons, an elegantly dressed old man walked in, accompanied by a petite and lively six or seven-year-old girl with orange-red hair.
"Xiao Dong, there's a seat over there. Go ahead first, I'll be there in a moment."
"Okay, Grandpa Ashuonuo!"
Bibi Dong skipped over in a few quick steps, her mood currently very cheerful.
"Big brother, can I sit here?"
Bibi Dong held her hands behind her back, looking at Long Qianming with a shy but slight smile, asking very politely.
"You can."
"Thank you, big brother."
Bibi Dong sat down happily. Her small hands occasionally tapped the table or fidgeted restlessly, and even her pair of sparkling, lively eyes were constantly observing the changes around her. At this time, she was not only active but also very curious.
Suddenly, she shifted a step closer to Long Qianming, staring at him with great curiosity, a flash of sympathy appearing in her eyes.
"Big brother, where are your parents? Why are you here all by yourself?"
Long Qianming remained silent and continued eating his wontons.
"Why are you ignoring me? That's very impolite!"
"Dead. I'm an orphan."
Long Qianming was somewhat speechless toward this little girl who was like a curious baby. We are both just passersby, strangers on the road; after leaving the restaurant, neither will recognize the other, so why learn everything in such detail?
"An orphan? I'm an orphan too. The village chief said my parents died not long after I was born. I was raised by the villagers."
"Oh."
Long Qianming only wanted to eat and check the merchant caravan departures outside the window. He didn't have the leisure or interest to chat with a girl.
Beside him, Bibi Dong looked at Long Qianming with a resentful expression. This big brother shared the same experience as her—they were both people with hard lives—he was just a bit cold and spoke very little.
Just as Bibi Dong was about to ask about Long Qianming's Spirit, the elegantly dressed old man walked over carrying two bowls of noodles.
"Xiao Dong, asking about someone else's Spirit casually is very impolite behavior. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Grandpa Ashuonuo."
Like a Child who had done something wrong, Bibi Dong took a bowl of noodles and began eating in an orderly fashion.
At this moment, Ashuonuo's anxious heart finally relaxed. If he hadn't stopped Bibi Dong's curious behavior just now, it was very likely she would have exposed her secret of having twin spirits and Innate Full Spirit Power.
If that happened, no one in this noodle shop would be able to leave, and they might even face the risk of being killed.
It seemed he would have to carefully instruct Bibi Dong later not to expose her Spirit, lest the secret of the twin spirits be revealed to the world before they even reached their Spirit Hall branch.
Ashuonuo looked at the shabbily dressed but very cool and handsome Long Qianming and asked quite curiously,
"Child, I see you've been watching the pedestrians on the street. Are you planning to leave this city?"
"Yes."
Long Qianming still maintained a vigilant expression. He would speak as little as possible, and it was best not to open his mouth at all.
When Bibi Dong heard this, out of sympathy and perhaps a sense of shared destiny, she hesitated briefly before handing over a gold hairpin as if she had made a major decision.
"This gold hairpin is a memento left to me by my mother. Now that I have Grandpa's help, I don't lack anything for the time being. You need money for traveling and eating; this gold hairpin can support you for a few more days. Take it."
"No need. I can earn the travel expenses myself. We are strangers; there's no need to sponsor me."
Long Qianming had never seen such a kind Child. He directly refused the gold hairpin; after all, it was a memento from her deceased parents. What would it be if he used it?
Bibi Dong tilted her head slightly, her bright smile growing even wider.
"So you can speak properly after all? This gold hairpin of mine only shows its value when it's in the hands of someone who truly needs it."
"Besides, keeping this gold hairpin only makes me miss my parents more, which is detrimental to my mental state for cultivation. Since that's the case, it's a good thing to leave it in your care for a while."
Ashuonuo, who was beside them, directly stuffed the gold hairpin into Long Qianming's hand.
"Child, our meeting today can be considered fate. Since Xiao Dong is giving you the gold hairpin, keep it well. If you have the chance to meet again in the future, you can return it then."
Ashuonuo felt positive about Bibi Dong's extremely pure kindness. Given her talent, she was destined to go to Spirit City and become a candidate for the Holy Maiden. By then, this pure kindness might no longer exist.
Therefore, while she hadn't gone to Spirit City yet, the Child should release her nature, and he should let her do